Communication via electrical synapses is an important and fast local mechanism. However, very little is known about use-dependent plasticity in the efficacy and rectification properties of electrical synapses. Haas et al. (see the Perspective by Hestrin) examined gap-junction communication in the reticular nucleus of the thalamus. Induced burst firing in pairs of coupled thalamic reticular nucleus neurons in vitro resulted in long-term depression. The changes in gap-junctional communication were also asymmetric, depending on the strength of the burst. Such modification of electrical synapses resulting from activity in coupled neurons is likely to be a widespread and powerful mechanism for the reorganization of electrically coupled networks.